The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1887-12-22

| that as there was musis at the start, there
| shall lie music at the close. While this
| heavenly art has often been dragged into
the uses of superstition and dissipation.
i we all know it may be the means of high
moral culture. Oh, it is q grand thing
to have our children brought up amidst
the sound of cultured voices and amidst
the melody Of musical instruments. There
| is in this art an indescribable fascination
for the household. Let all those families
| who have the means to afford v, have
flute or harp, or piano or organ. As soon
as the hand is large enough to compass
the keys, teach it how to pick out the
melody. Let all our young men try this
heavenly art upon their nature. Those
who have gone into it fully have found
in it illimitable recreation and amuse-
mcnt. Dark days. stormy nights, sea-
sons Of sickness, business disasters, will
do little toward depressing the soul which
can gallop off over musical keys or soar
i'll jubilant lay. 1t viii cure pain. 1t
will rest fatigue. twill quell passion.
1t will revive health. 1t will reclaim dis
sipation. 1t will strengthen the immor-
tai soul In the battle of Waterloo,
Wellington saw that the IIighlanders
were falling back. He said, what is
the matter thcre?'' He was told that the
band of music had ceased playing, and
he called up the pipers and ordered them
to strike up an Inspiring air; and no
sooner did they strike the air than the
IIighlanders were rallied, and helped to
win the day. Oh, We who have Eeen
routed in the conflicts of life. try by the
force of music to rally your scattered
battallOns.
am glad to know that III Our great
cities there is hardly night il which
there are not concerts. where, with the
best musical instruments and the sweet
est voices, people may find entertain
.Aent. Patgonize such entertainments
when they are afforded you. Duy sea-
on tickets, If YOU can. for the "Philhar
.aonic' and the Handel and Haydn
,e.eties. Feel that the $50 or s! that
II spend for the purpose Of hearing an
rrist play or sing is a profitable invest
nent Let your Steinway halls and your
| 1cadnmieS of Music roar with the accla-
.au,.on Of aporeciative audiences assem-
led at the concert or the OratoriO.
Still further: / commend as worthy Of
Aeir support the gymnasium. This in
AID know Of nothing more free from
,.:ssiYation, or more calculated to recu
,crate the physical and mental energies.
lille there are a gool many people who
nave employed this Tuition. there is q
vast number who d - = its eX-
cclloncies. There arc men an cramped
chests and weak sides and despondent
spirits who, through the gymnasium.
might be reused up to eXuberance and
cxhilaration of life. There are many
Christian people despondent from year to
wear who might, through such an ins'i-
tu.;on be benefited in their spiritual re-
2t!ons. There are Christian people who
accm to think that 1t is good sign to be
poorly: and because Richard Baxter and
Robert Hall were invalils they think that
by the same siCkliness they may come to
the same grandeur of character. want
to tell the Christian people of my congre-
cation shat God will hold you responsible
for your invalidism if it is your fault,
and when, through right exercise and
prudence, you might be athletic and
well. The effect of the body upon the
soul you acknowledge. Put Al man of
mild disposition upon the animal diet Of
which the Indian partakes, and in little
while his blood will change its chemical
proportions. 1t will become like unto the
blood of the lion or the tiger or the bear,
while his disposition will change, and be-
come fierce, cruel and unrelenting. The
body has powerful effect upon the soul.
There are good people whose ideas of
heaven are all shut out with clouds of
tobacco smoke. There are people who
| Il, @Lo i'm xrlni inll
God has put the jewel of eternity. There
are men with great hearts and intellects
in bodies worn out by their own neglects
magnificent machinery capable of pro-
pelling a Great Eastern across the Atlantic,
yet fastened in rickety North river pro
peller Martin Luther was so mighty for
God, first, because he had a noble soul.
and secondly, because he had muscular
development which would have enabled
him to thrash any five of his prosecutors,
if it had been Christian so to do. Physical
development, which merely shows itself
n fabulous lifting. or in perilous rope
walking, or in pugilistic encounter, ex-
cites only our contempt; but we confess
o great admiration for the man who has
great soul in an athletic body, every
rye, muscle and bone of which Is con-
Grated TO right uses. Oh. it seems to
le outrageous that men. through neglect,
sOuld allow their physical health to go
own beyond repair. A ship which ought,
18th all sail set and every man at his
ct, to be carrying a rich cargo for
tlrnity, employing all its men in stop
ing up leakagcs! When you may,
lrouGh the gymnasium, work of your
7leen and your querulousness and one
IF of your physical and mental ailments,
rot turn your back upon such grand
.cdicament.
Still further: commend to you large
lss of parlor games and recreations.
here is a way of making our homes a
aadrcd fold more Attractive than they
re nov. Those parents cannot expect
keep their children away from outside
.ssipations unless they make the domes-
C c.rcle Iri slter than anything they
n find outside of it. Do not, then, sit
a Your home surly and unsympathetic,
n with half condemnatory look, be-
.,,ise of the sportfulness of your children.
on were young once yourself; let your
.l.ldren be young. Because your eyes
rc dim and your ankles are stiff, do not
caounce sportfulness in those upon
vhose eyes there is the first lustre, and
"a whose foot there is the bounding JOY
f robust health. thank God that in
our drawing rooms and in our parlors
there are innumerable games and sports
which have not upon them the least
taint of iniquity. Light up all your